Domestic water mixing and distribution device

ABSTRACT

This application discloses a water mixing and distribution device for use on a domestic sink, washbowl, or the like. The invention resides in the particular combination and arrangement of elements which provide for the mixing of hot and cold water and the discharge of the mixed water through a portable discharge head.

United States Patent Mac S. ORear 20558 Oakfield, Detroit, Mich. 48235 798,958

Feb. 13, 1969 July 6, 1971 Inventor Applv No Filed Patented DOMESTIC WATER MIXING AND DISTRIBUTION DEVICE 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 239/197, 4/195, 134/172, 137/355.16, 239/413, 239/526 Int. Cl Bh /00 Field of Search 239/195,

[56} References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,620,785 12/1952 Zimmermann 1, 239/197 X 3,128,914 4/1964 Bertrand 1. 239/ X 3,225,974 12/1965 Athas 137/355.l6 X 3,374,957 3/1968 Tyler 4/192 X FOREIGN PATENTS 78,829 8/1931 Sweden 4/195 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Michael Y. Mar Attorney-Irving M. Weiner ABSTRACT: This application discloses a water mixing and distribution device for use on a domestic sink, washbowl, or the like. The invention resides in the particular combination and arrangement of elements which provide for the mixing of hot and cold water and the discharge of the mixed water through a portable discharge head.

DOMESTIC WATER MIXING AND DISTRIBUTION DEVICE This invention relates to water mixing and distribution devices, and has particular reference to a mixing and portable discharge combination which may be used in place of the conventional faucets and spray head commonly used on kitchen sinks, washbowls in barber shops, and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide an integrated structure embodying the means for receiving hot and cold water, and discharging the mixed water through a portable spray head.

Another object of the invention is to provide an integrated water mixing and spray head which is readily adaptable to a conventional domestic three-hole sink, without the use of special tools and adapters.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which is constructed and arranged in a way to obviate the necessity of using rings and washers in the spout area.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which is constructed and arranged so that it may be serviced with a great saving of time and labor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated in which the water intake and mixing operations may be controlled with the fingers of one hand while the portable spray discharge head is manipulated by the other hand.

Q Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for the intake and mixing of hot and cold water.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which is provided with a portable discharge spray suitable for washing and rinsing dishes in a conventional sink, or may be used for shainpooing and rinsing hair in a barber shop, or the like.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character indicated which has a portable spray nozzle secured to the end of a flexible hose, whereby water may be discharged and sprayed upon objects remote from the sink or washbowl.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, reference being made from time to time to the accompanying drawing, forming part of the within disclosure, in which drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a device embodying the invention, with parts broken away parts shown in section, and other parts shown in broken lines, whereby to illustrate the relationship of the various elements.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section taken through the device shown in FIG. 1, and mounted on a conventional domestic kitchen sink.

FIG. 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a detail in section, showing the construction of the hot water valve and environments. v

. FIG. 5 is a modified form of hot water valve which may be employed with the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will be understood that in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reference character 7 indicates, in general, the cover, or housing, for certain of the principal parts of the assembly. The housing 7 is preferably made of stainless steel, however, it may be made of anodized aluminum, plastic, or other suitable material.

In FIG. 2 I show the assembly as mounted on a conventional domestic kitchen sink 8, which is provided with conventionally spaced openings 9, l0 and 11, through which are extendedcertain parts of the invention assembly, as hereinafter described.

}The invention device includes a water intake compartment 12, a mixing chamber 13, and a spray head 14, which includes an insulated handgrip portion and a base portion 16.

The water intake compartment 12 is preferably circular in shape and has sidewalls 12A, bottom wall 128 and top wall 12C. The water intake compartment 12 has a center wall 12D which divides the compartment into a hot water chamber 17, and a cold water chamber 18.

Hot water enters the chamber 17 through a hot water line 19, and cold water enters the chamber 18 through a cold water line 20. The flow of water into and out of the hot and cold water chambers 17 and 18 is controlled by suitable valves 21 (Fig. 4) which valves are respectively manipulated by rockable levers 22 and 23, as hereinafter described. Each lever 22, 23 is pivoted as at 24, Fig. 4, to a bifurcated bracket 25 which is supported by the upper wall of the compartment 12. Each lever 22, 23 is provided at its lower end with a cam 26 (Fig.4) which cam 26 is arranged to actuate the valve 21 to open and close the same when the lever is rocked on the pivot 24. Each valve 21 is spring biased as at 27, Fig. 4.

Cold water entering the compartment 18 is conveyed to the mixing chamber I3 through a tube 28, which communicates with an opening 29in the partition wall 12D and the mixing chamber 13. Hot water is delivered to the mixing chamber 13 through a second tube 30, which communicates with an opening 31 in'the sidewall 12A of the compartment 17 and themterior of the mixing chamber 13 as shown in Fig. 1. Each valve 21 (Fig 4) is provided with a suitable valve seat formed in the member 32 which is secured by any suitable means to the interior of the chamber 18.

Although I have described in detail the valve 21 in the compartment 18, it will be understood that a similar valving arrangement is carried in compartment 17. In Fig. 5 I show a modified form of valve and valve control in which the pivoted lever 33 is provided with a gooseneck 34, which is arranged to actuate the lever 35 which in turn actuates the valve 36 under the influence of a spring 37. This modification is a little more complicated than the structure shown in Fig. 4, so that I prefer to use the structure shown in Fig. 4.

Hot and cold water is carried through the tubes 28 and 30 to the mixing chamber 13, where it is thoroughly mixed to a suitable temperature. The properly tempered mixed water is then discharged into a flexible tube 38 which connects at its other end through fittings 39 to a neck 40, which communicates with the interior of the base member 16 which in turn connects through the handgrip portion 15 to the discharge spray head 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the handgrip portion is insulated with an outer covering 15A, and is provided with a central passage way 158 which communicates directly between the base member 16 and the spray head 14. The base member 16 is provided with a concave bottomwall 16A which engages a convex seat 168 formed in a plastic ring 41 through the center, through which slidably extends the neck 40. The opening in the ring 41 is sufficiently large enough to permit the neck 40 and the fittings 39 and the hose 38 to slide so that the spray head 14 may be transported about at will. The mixing chamber 13 is provided with a depending threaded extension 13A arranged to receive a washer 13B and a locknut 13C as shown in FIG. 2. The member 12 is provided with a similar depending threaded extension which is also adapted to receive a washer 12F and a locknut 12G.

It is believed that the operation of the device is obvious from the foregoing description.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1

1. In a device of the character described the combination of an elongated housing for mounting on a conventional sink, a single water intake compartment which is divided into two subcompartments, a water mixing compartment, means communicating the interiors of said compartments, hot and cold water lines in communication with said intake compartment, valve means mounted in each subcompartment for separately controlling each of said water lines, and a portable spray discharge assembly in communication with said mixing compartment comprising a hollow handgrip element terminating at one end in a spray head, an annular base element for normally supporting the opposite end of said handgrip element, said opposite end terminating in a depending neck portion which extends through said annular base element and is at tached to a flexible water line which communicates with said mixing compartment, whereby said spray head may be used as a conventional faucet nozzle in the retracted position or as a handheld nozzle in the extended position.

2. The structure of claim 1, in which said separate valve means are individually controlled by closely spaced levers pivotably mounted on the exterior of said single water intake compartment.

3. The structure of claim 1, in which each said single water intake compartment and said mixing compartment is provided with a depending externally threaded element, said threaded elements being extended through spaced openings in said sink and being secured to said sink by washers and nuts.

4. The structure of claim 1, in which said single water intake compartment is divided into two subcompartments each of which subcompaitments is controlled by a valve, and means to communicate its interior with the interior of said mixing compartment.

5. A water mixing and distribution device comprising, in

combination:

a housing;

a cold water chamber disposed within said housing and connectable to asource of cold water;

a hot water chamber disposed within said housing and connectable to a source of hot water;

a single water intake compartment which contains said cold and hot water chambers and which is disposed within said housing;

adjustable means extending from said single water intake compartment for controlling the flow of cold and hot water into said cold and hot water chambers, respectively;

a mixing chamber disposed within said housing;

first means disposed within said housing connected between said mixing chamber and said cold water chamber within said single water intake compartment for conveying cold water from said single water intake compartment to said mixing chamber;

second means disposed within said housing connected between said mixing chamber and said hot water chamber within said single water intake compartment for conveying hot water from said single water intake compartment to said mixing chamber;

a portable spray head slidably disposed within said housing;

and

third means including a flexible hose for conveying water from said mixing chamber to said portable spray head for discharge from said portable spray head.

6. A water mixing and distribution device characterized substantially in accordance with claim 5, wherein said adjustable means extending from said single water intake compartment is arranged so that the flow of cold and hot water chambers, respectively, can be controlled simultaneously with the fingers of one hand of a user of said device, while said portable spray head can be manipulated by the other hand of said user of said device.

7. A water mixing and distribution device characterized substantially in accordance with claim 5, wherein-said housing is readily adaptable to a conventional three hole washbowl or sink wherein said single water intake compartment is adapted to fit within one of said three holes, said mixing chamber is adapted to fit within a second hole of said three holes, and said portable spray head is adapted to be slidably mounted within the third hole of said three holes of said conventional washbowl or sink.

8. A water mixing and distribution device characterized substantially in accordance with claim 5, wherein said first means includes a first tube for conveying cold water from said cold water chamber to said mixing chamber. and said second means includes a second tube for conveying hot water from said hot water chamber to said mixing chamber.

A water mixing and distribution device characterized substantially in accordance with claim 5, wherein said adjustable means extending from said single water intake compartment includes a pair of rockable levers which are closely spaced together so as to be readily grasped and moved simultaneously by the fingers of one hand of a user of said-device for simultaneously controlling the flow of cold and hot water into said cold and hot water chamber, respectively. 

1. In a device of the character described the combination of an elongated housing for mounting on a conventional sink, a single water intake compartment which is divided into two subcompartments, a water mixing compartment, means communicating the interiors of said compartments, hot and cold water lines in communication with said intake compartment, valve means mounted in each subcompartment for separately controlling each of said water lines, and a portable spray discharge assembly in communication with said mixing compartment comprising a hollow handgrip element terminating at one end in a spray head, an annular base element for normally supporting the opposite end of said handgrip element, said opposite end terminating in a depending neck portion which extends through said annular base element and is attached to a flexible water line which communicates with said mixing compartment, whereby said spray head may be used as a conventional faucet nozzle in the retracted position or as a handheld nozzle in the extended position.
 2. The structure of claim 1, in which said separate valve means are individually controlled by closely spaced levers pivotably mounted on the exterior of said single water intake compartment.
 3. The structure of claim 1, in which each said single water intake compartment and said mixing compartment is provided with a depending externally threaded element, said threaded elements being extended through spaced openings in said sink and being secured to said sink by washers and nuts.
 4. The structure of claim 1, in which said single water intake compartment is divided into two subcompartments each of which subcompartments is controlled by a valve, and means to communicate its interior with the interior of said mixing compartment.
 5. A water mixing and distribution device comprising, in combination: a housing; a cold water chamber disposed within said housing and connectable to a source of cold water; a hot water chamber disposed within said housing and connectable to a source of hot water; a single water intake compartment which contains said cold and hot water chambers and which is disposed within said housing; adjustable means extending from said single water intake compartment for controlling the flow of cold and hot water into said cold and hot water chambers, respectively; a mixing chamber disposed within said housing; first means disposed within said housing connected between said mixing chamber and said cold water chamber within said single water intake compartment for conveying cold water from said single water intake compartment to said mixing chamber; second means disposed within said housing connected between said mixing chamber and said hot water chamber within said single water intake compartment for conveying hot water from said single water intake compartment to said mixing chamber; a portable spray head slidably disposed within said housing; and third means including a flexible hose for conveying water from said mixing chamber to said portable spray head for discharge from said portable spray head.
 6. A water mixing and distribution device characterized substantially in accordance with claim 5, wherein said adjustable means extending from said single water intake compartment is arranged so that the flow of cold and hot water chambers, respectively, can be controlled simultaneously with the fingers of one hand of a user of said device, while said portable spray head can be manipulated by the other hand of said user of said device.
 7. A water mixing and distribution device characterized substantially in accordance with claim 5, wherein said housing is readily adaptable to a conventional three hole washbowl or sink wherein saId single water intake compartment is adapted to fit within one of said three holes, said mixing chamber is adapted to fit within a second hole of said three holes, and said portable spray head is adapted to be slidably mounted within the third hole of said three holes of said conventional washbowl or sink.
 8. A water mixing and distribution device characterized substantially in accordance with claim 5, wherein said first means includes a first tube for conveying cold water from said cold water chamber to said mixing chamber. and said second means includes a second tube for conveying hot water from said hot water chamber to said mixing chamber.
 9. A water mixing and distribution device characterized substantially in accordance with claim 5, wherein said adjustable means extending from said single water intake compartment includes a pair of rockable levers which are closely spaced together so as to be readily grasped and moved simultaneously by the fingers of one hand of a user of said device for simultaneously controlling the flow of cold and hot water into said cold and hot water chamber, respectively. 